How To Work The Room At Networking Events
Networking is a casual way to meet people in your industry, right? That might be the case for some people but to really get the most out of that time, there are some key tips to follow. Networking events are what you make of them. The way we approach these events is in a strategic manner. We want to receive the most amount of exposure as possible. We focus on consistency, volume and follow up. Outlining the largest events in your market is the first step to planning your monthly commitment to the events. Networking is not a "one time pop" type of marketing. It takes time and branding for people to recognize you, develop relationships and believe in your services. We commit to every event for at least one year and then asses how much value was obtained by that event. Most networking groups run once per month on the same day so it is easy to set your calendar. The next thing you want to do is potentially set up as sponsor in the event if it makes financial sense as this will provide a lot of credibility. The final step is follow up. Everyone you meet should have a business card, so be sure to call and email them the very next day. This is not a contact you would want to wait 2 weeks to touch base with. We do a lot of business and have developed a lot of relationships at networking events, but it came with a lot planning and preparing to do it correctly.
Ian Walsh
215.839.3271
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